Shopping and Sweating in the Sahara

Saharaganj and Hazratganj, that is. Hazratganj is Lucknow's biggest market area, with bazaars and restaurants and all kinds of touristy shops. Saharaganj, despite its desert-worthy title, is actually a shopping center with four or five floors - it has McDonald's, Big Bazaar, which is the Indian equivalent of Wal Mart, more or less - multiple floors with all kinds of different goods. In the US, I'm really not a fan of shopping at all, but here I was quite enjoying myself, though shopping, like most things, is quite an intensive sensory experience. It gives a whole new meaning to 'shop til you drop!'

All of had been feeling sickly to some degree on Friday, but luckily by Saturday we were feeling better. Toward the later afternoon we were trying to find a swimming pool to use, but did not have any luck. We tried at one hotel, but their pool was only for guests, so we walked to Hazratgang to explore. First there was a trip to the excitingly titled FabIndia to get some ready made clothing - I in particularly wanted to finally get some Indian clothes to wear! I got two kurtas (tunics) and shalwars (pants) there that I can mix and match (both in shades of blue and purple, surprise surprise!) After some respite from the heat in a coffee shop, we made the hot and sweaty trek to Saharaganj, where I made my way through "Big Bazaar" to collect some miscellaneous foodstuffs, an extra towel, flip-flops for the shower, etc.

I also tried on some clothes there, though it can be hard to find shirts that fit me in the shoulders and arms. I would up getting one shirt there....as well as a stylish "burqa" that was a steal at only 99 rupees (originally 650!) I always wanted a burqa of my very own! ;) (I think it's not actually a burqa really, but an abaya?) Anyway, you can also wear just the dress, and it's quite pretty. :)

I also got a memory card reader, but I still haven't been able to look at my pictures, so I think it may be something with the computer....

I've now been here a little over a week, though with so much going on it seems like it's been longer. My comfort level is expanding progressively as I go, I suppose. The other day I walked to the general store and medical store right across the street from our house and got some snacks and toiletries, and I also negotiated my way through the bustle and chaos of "Indian wal-mart." It definitely forces me to speak more Hindi! Some people of course will speak English, but overall I was actually surprised how many people automatically speak to me in Hindi. Yesterday at the mall I realized that I was surrounded by probably a couple thousand people, and I was the only white person around. The only other westerners I see during the week are other people from the program.

It's also fairly surreal to have only studied Hindu-Urdu academically before, and then come somewhere where I'm surrounded by it all the time -it's suddenly a real language, with everyone around talking away in it, and signs and loudspeaker announcements and flyers all in Hindi (not so much in Urdu, though a lot of the signs here are in both).

With all of this going on, I should really remember that I also have to do homework! ;)